Subaru was ahead of the game when it came to offering its popular crossovers with a tough-looking suit of plastic, graphics, and all-terrain tires. The recipe was first unleashed on the Outback Wilderness in 2020, and by 2023, Wilderness versions of the Outback and Forester accounted for nearly 20 percent of each respective model’s sales volumes. The standard Forester was redesigned for 2025, but those who wanted a Forester Wilderness had to make do with the old model for another year. Now you outdoorspeople can get out your checkbooks, because Subaru just unveiled the new 2026 Forester Wilderness and it’s torquier, lifted higher, and all wrapped up in more of that black plastic you know and love.
No huge changes come under the skin when compared to the outgoing 2025 Forester Wilderness; 2026 models actually lose two horsepower, down to 180, but gain two pound-feet of torque, up to 178. Subaru says the engine and transmission have been retuned to make more of that power accessible at lower engine speeds. The transmission is Subaru’s CVT with eight simulated gears, which now has a shorter final drive ratio for better performance in low-speed off-road situations.
The Wilderness shares the standard Forester’s Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, which Subaru claims offers faster center differential lockup to reduce wheelspin when off-roading, and accounts for steering angle for better high-speed on-road handling. Like the standard Forester, the driving behavior of the Forester Wilderness will also benefit from a 10-percent increase in overall platform rigidity.
Wilderness trim gets standard all-terrain tires on 17-inch alloy wheels, an uprated transmission cooler that enables it to tow up to 3,500 pounds, and a rear differential temperature sensor. While the new Forester Wilderness’ 9.3 inches of ground clearance is only 0.1 inch more than the outgoing model, it continues to offer notably more ground clearance than the 8.7 inches of the standard Forester thanks to longer coil springs and shocks. It has the same approach and breakover angles as the outgoing Forester Wilderness, but a slightly better departure angle, up 0.1 inch. A standard roof rack has an 800-pound static capacity and a 176-pound maximum dynamic capacity, so go ahead and add that rooftop tent to your cart.
Inside, the new Wilderness has an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with an optional 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, a first for the Forester Wilderness, with exclusive graphics. It also gets an animal-free interior with Subaru’s durable StarTex seating surfaces and copper-colored interior touches. Interior dimensions don’t change much compared to the outgoing car, but that’s not too much of an issue since the Forester’s interior is a roomy and comfortable place to be.
Subaru says it will unveil pricing and other detailed specifications closer to the model’s official launch around fall of 2025. The redesigned Forester Wilderness is not a total revolution for its class of ruggedized compact crossover vehicles, but it continues to offer more of what made the first Forester Wilderness a hit, namely a car-like driving experience, a spacious and versatile interior, and improved off-road abilities should you ever feel like taking a jaunt off the pavement. Even if you never leave the road, the Forester Wilderness will make people think you do, and that’s usually enough for buyers in this segment.
